Separation of mixed sulfid ores.



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ROWLAND THOMAS DRYLL WILLIAMS, 0]? BROKEN HILL, NEW SOUTH WALES,

AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINERALS SEPARA- TION NORTH AMERICAN CORPORATION.

SEPARATION OF MIXED SULFID ORES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ROWLAND THoMAs DRYLL WILLIAMS, a subject of the King of England, residing at Broken Hill, New

South Wales, Australia, have invented-cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in the Separation of Mixed Sulfid Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the separation of sulfid ores by flotation and it relates more especially to the fractional or differential flotation of .certain sulfids from other sulfids.

to Greenway Sulman and Higgins .No.

962678 granted June 28th, 1910, to Greenway and Lavers No. 1064723 granted June 17th, 1913, and to H. H. Greenway No. 1099699 granted June 9th, 1914, in which the ore is subjected to agitation and (or) aeration in Water in the presence of a frothing agent to roduce a scum or froth of metallic sulfids. urther, the invention is a devel opment of that described in the United States Patent No. 1067485 to Nutter and Lavers granted July 15th, 1913, that is to say, a separation is effected between the different metallic sulfids in the agitation-froth process by varying the controlling conditions, and particularly the chemical constitution of the solution employed. This invention is applicable to other methods of flotation separation, such as that known as film flotation and the'like.

I have discovered that by the addition t the circuit liquor or to the water in which the ore is suspended of bleaching powder with or without a persulfate such as ammonium persulfate a differential or preferential flotation separation of certain sulfids (such as galena) from other sulfids (such as blende) may be obtained.

I will now give some illustrations of the Specification of Letters Patent.

.low in zinc.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed July 20, 1915. Serial No. 40,847.

application of this invention to certain m1xed sulfid ores, though it will be understood that I do not confine myself to these conditions.

A sample of 153 lbs. of a Broken Hill slime was subjected to agitation and aeratlon in water to which 16 ozs. of bleaching powder and 6 ozs. of ammonium persulfate were added. When thoroughly agitated one oz. of eucalyptus oil Was added, and a further amount of one oz. of the oil was again added durlng the operation. Float concentrates were removed at intervals which were found to be relatively rich in lead and silver and The residues were found to be relatively low in silver and lead.

A sample of 2 lbs. of Broken Hill slimes assaying P1). 19.5%, Zn. 24.4% was su|b-. Jected to agitation and aeration in water to which an amount of bleaching powder had been added equivalent to 25 lbs. per ton and an amount of ammonium persulfate equiva lent to 25 lbs. per ton (without the addition of any other frothing agent) when float concentrates were obtained assaying Pb. 50.3% and Zn. 14.2%.

Another sample of 150 lbs. of, Broken Hill slimes assayin Pb. 10.2%, Zn. 16% and Ag.

v7 .1 ozs. was su jected to agitation and aeration in water to which an amount of bleaching powder equivalent to 17.5 lbs. per tonthe addition of any other frothing agent) when float concentrates were obtained assaying Pb. Zn. 14% and Ag. 49.2 ozs. per ton giving a recovery of 84.9% P-b.

Another sampleof 150 lbs. of Broken Hill slimes assaying Pb. 10.2%, Zn. 16% and Ag. 7.1 ozs. was subjected to agitation and aeration in water to which was added an amount of bleaching powder equivalent to 17.5 lbs. per ton of ore treated and an.

amount of iron-ammonium-alum equivalent to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for the separation of mixed metalliferous minerals which consists in mixing an orecontaining mixed metalliferous minerals in a finely ground condition with water containing bleaching powder in solution and submitting it to froth flotation separation, whereby products are obtained relatively high in certain values and other prod ucts are'obtained relatively high in'other values.

2. A process for the separation of mixed metalliferous minerals which consists in mixin an ore containing mixed metalliferous minerals in finely ground condition with water containing bleaching powder in solution, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth, whereby a product relatively high in certain Values is obtained in the froth and a product relatively high in other values is obtained in the residues.

3. A process for the separation of mixed metalliferous minerals which consists in mixing an ore containing mixed metalliferous minerals in a finely ground condition with water containing in solution bleaching powder and a small proportion of a frothing agent froth, and separating the froth, whereby a productvrelatively high in certain values is obtained in the froth and a product rela tively high in other values is obtained in the residues. v

4:. A process for the separation of mixed metalliferous minerals which consists in mixing an ore containing mixed metalliferous minerals in a finely ground condition with water containing in solution bleaching powder and a persulfate, and'submitting it to flotation separation, whereby products are obtained relatively high in certain values and other products are obtained relatively high in other values.

5. A process for the separation of mixed metalliferous minerals which consists in mixing an ore containing mixed metalliferous minerals in a finely ground condition with water containing in solution bleaching powder and a persulfate, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth, whereby a product relatively high in certain values is obtained in the froth and a agitating the mixture to form a product relatively high in other values is obtained in the residues.'

6. A rocess for the separation of mixed metalli erous minerals which consists in mixing an ore containing mixed metalliferous minerals in a finely ground condition submitting it to flotation separation, whereby a flotation product is obtained relatively high in lead particles and residues are obtained relatively high in zinc particles.

8. A process for the separation of zinc and lead which consists in mixing a zinc-lead ore in finely ground condition with water containing bleaching powder in solution, agitating the'mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth, whereby a product relatively high in lead is obtained in the froth and a product relatively high in zinc is obtained in the residues.

9. A process for the separation of zinc and lead which consists in mixing a zinclead ore in finely'ground condition with water containing bleaching powder in solution and containing a small quantity of a -frothing agent, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth, whereby a product relatively high in lead is obtained in the froth and a product relatively high in zinc is obtained in the residues.

10. A process for the separation of zinc and lead which consists in mixing a zinclead ore in finel ground condition with water containing in solution bleaching powder and ammonium persulfate, thereafter adding "a small quantity of a frothing agent, and further agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth, whereby a product relatively high in lead is obtained in the froth and a product relatively high in zinc is-obtained in the residues.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROWLAND THOMAS DRYLL WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

ARTH R GORE CoLLIsoN, LESLIE HERBERT BROADBENT. 

